After months of speculation regarding the new Wii, gaming insiders finally got a look at Nintendo’s latest video game console. The video game giant unveiled the Wii successor, the Wii U, at an E3 press conference today, a device Nintendo hopes will appeal to hard core and casual gamers alike.

"As an industry, what we haven't achieved yet is a platform that is equally satisfying for all players," said Satoru Iwata, president and CEO of Nintendo. "This is exactly what we intend to create with our new home platform."

Like the original Wii, players can control Wii U game action through motion. However, the Wii U features a tablet like controller with a 6.2 inch color touch screen at its center, a screen that can also be used as a stand-alone display should players wish to shift the game from their television screen. The controller, which features an inward-facing camera, a microphone, and speaker, can also display information on its screen that does not appear on TV.

“Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together,” said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. “The experience enabled by Wii U and the new controller takes players deeper into their games, while reaching out wider than ever before to be inviting to all kinds of gamers.”

The Wii U will ship sometime next year, though Nintendo has not yet revealed the new console’s price or technical specifications.

Games for the original Wii will be compatible with the new console, as will the original controller.